What started out as an idea and desire to create a brewpub soon grew to the first Texas distillery. A backstory and process as unique as their whiskey, Alex Elrod sat down with us to talk about Balcones Distillery. Alex has been with the distillery for around half its existence and expertly explains many different facets of their whisky. In fact, by the end, we felt we had just saddled up to the bar, had some excellent pours, and talked through a wonderful journey of history and knowledge combined.
The First Texas Distillery: Balcones Distillery Interview with Alex Elrod | Old-Fashioned Football (Ep. 109)
Alex doesn’t just tell us how Balcones got started. He walks us through tastings of their bourbon and their rye. Alex gives details of how these are made and what makes them unique. From the grains used in the rye to the bourbon being made through a single-malt lover’s glasses.
He also helps us understand how the Texas climate changes the maturation processes. Ranging from the whiskey in the barrels to the making of the barrels themselves, his extensive knowledge helps us understand the unique character of their whiskies.
The Balcones Distillery has unique perspectives on not only how they are making their whiskey, but the fermentation process itself. They’ve explored an approach to let the yeast do its job and strived for a more hands-off approach.
You won’t want to miss this episode as Alex also adds in information about a new rye. He also slips in some breaking news on a new product that is coming out soon. Join Old-Fashioned Football with hosts JMark and Mir, as their conversation with Alex is fun, unique, and just has a feel of three enthusiasts talking whisky and distilling.
On top of all this, Alex helps us understand what makes a Texas whiskey a certified Texas whiskey, and why they don’t use the “E” in their whisky.
More Information On Balcones Distillery
You can find more information on Balcones on their website here. You can also visit their social media pages at X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. For Iowa residents who cannot get Balcones, you can order Lineage or their Single Malt through Ace Spirits.
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